Portable burner apparatus for generating and burning hydrocarbon vapor fuel



Dec. 28, 1948. e. P. KlTTEL ETAL 2,457,683

PORTABLE BURNER APPARATUS FOR GENERATING AND BURNING HYDROCARBON VAPORFUEL Filed Jan. 10, 1946 a Sheets-Sheet 1 lllnlu [$1 I, 1 a, I g

m w N N 2 INVENTOR.

Dec. 28, 1948. G. P. KITTEL ETAL 2,457,683

PORTABLE BURNER APPARATUS FOR GENERATING AND BURNING HYDROCARBQN VAPORFUEL Filed Jan. 10, 1946' s Sheets-Sheet 2 UN Q N R R "v INVENTOR. if 3472722 BY MAM 5f,

azmagma,

4 G. P. KlTTEL ET AL PORTABLE BURNER APPARATUS FOR GENERATING ANDBURNING HYDROCARBON IAPOR FUEL Dec. 28, 1948.

a sheets-sheet 3 Filed Jan. 10, 1946 INVENTOR.

650565 P/fifla ,1 BY 7%. Man 5 Mr Dec. 28, 1948- G. P. KlTTEL ET AL2,457,683

PORTABLE BURNER APPARATUS FOR GENERATING AND BURNING HYDROCARBON VAPORFUEL Filed Jan. 10, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 4.

v INVENTOR. 650%5774727225 BY 29p;

Dec. 28, 1948. G. P. KITTEL .ET AL 2,457,683

PORTABLE BURNER APPARATUS FOR GENERATING AND BURNING. HYDROCARBON VAPORFUEL Filed Jan. 10, 1946 8 Sh sh 5 4&54153 W Dec. 28, 1948. e. P. KITTELET AL PORTABLE BURNER APPARATUS FOR GENERATING AND BURNING HYDROGARBONVAPOR FUEL Filed Jan. 10, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. 60 6 BY 3704WaL/va JYTZZORNEYS".

Dec. 28, 194

G. P. KlTTEL ETAL PORTABLE BURNER APPARATUS FOR GENERATING AND BURNINGHYDROCARBON VAPOR FUEL 8 Sheets-Shet 7 Filed Jan. 10, 1946 INI'ENTOR.65am? Mf ,5 BY 72% .h aM E P. KlTTEL ET AL PORTABLE BURNER APPARATUS FORGENERATING Dec. 28, 1948.

AND BURNING HYDROCARBON VAPOR FUEL 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Jan. 10, 1946[N V EN TOR. ZvRfEP/WrrA-Z i atented Dec. 28, 1948 PORTABLE BURNERAPPARATUS FOR GEN ERATING AND BURNING HYDROCARBON VAPOR FUEL George P.Kittel, West New York, and Paul Wollner, Weehawken, N. J., assignors, bymesne assignments, to Aeroil Products Company, Inc.,

West New York, N. J.

Application January 10, 1946, Serial No. 640,208

Thisinvention relates to a burner apparatus for generating a combustiblemixture of hydrocarbon vapor and air and for burning the same in aseries of projected flame jets for consuming vegetation, sterilizingsoil particularly seed beds, heating road surfaces and the like as theapparatus is towed or moved thereover.

The invention comprehends a burner apparatus of the indicated characterwhich is mounted on Wheels or skids and is provided with a liquid fuelreservoir from which the liquid is fed to a vaporizing device and mixedwith air to provide a combustible gaseous fuel which is burned underpressure in a series of downwardly projected flame jets as the apparatusis moved or towed for consuming stubble, weeds, brush, sterilizing soilsand seed beds, and the like and for heating or melting tarvia surfacesin pavement or road construction.

The invention also provides a burner apparatus which is adjustable forregulating the pressure of the projected flame jets to thereby controlthe temperature and length of flame thereof.

The invention has for a further object the provision of a hand operatedmeans located at the forward end thereof for regulating the height ofthe burner above the ground.

The invention further has in view the provision of a burner apparatus inwhich the liquid fuel is completely consumed by the burning of thecombustible mixture and which provides an even distribution of the heatof the flame jets over the area to be heated while providing simplicityand reliability of operation together with a high safety factor.

With the foregoing and other objects in view reference is now made tothe following specification and accompanying drawing in which is 11-lustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a burner apparatus constructed in accordancewith the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof with portions broken away toillustrate the underlying construction.

Fig. 3 is a rear end view thereof with portions broken away toillustrate the underlying construction.

Fig. 4 is a front view of the same.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectionalview of the main burner takenapproximately on line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view through themain burner.

2 Claims. (Cl. 126-2712) Fig. '7 is a fragmentary bottom plan viewthereof.

Fig. 8 is a side view of the pilot burner and vaporizing coil andhousing therefor with parts broken away to illustrate the underlyingconstruction.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view thereof.

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view takenapproximately on line |9I 0 ofFig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view of the piping from the fuel drum orbarrel to the pilot burner and main burner.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the liquid fueldrum or barrel.

Fig. 13 is a top plan View of a modified form of main burner.

Fig. 14 is a view in elevation thereof.

Fig. 15 is a vertical sectional View taken approximately on line l5-l 5of Fig. 13.

Fig. 16 is a bottom plan View of another form of main burner.

Fig. 17 is a View in elevation thereof Fig. 18 is an enlarged side Viewof the vaporized fuel and air mixing device showing the forward end ofthe mixing conduit in section.

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary side view of the nozzle and fuel line leadingthereto.

Referring to the drawings by characters ofreference, the burnerapparatus is mounted on a supporting frame A consisting oflongitudinally extending channel shaped opposite side members In and IIwhich are welded or otherwise connected to a rear end channel shapedmember l2 and to transversely extending intermediate channel shapedmembers 13. The opposite side mem bers l0 and I I converge inwardly atthe forward ends thereof with'the extreme forward ends secured togetherand provided with a forwardly and downwardly directed channel shaped barM formed with aligned apertures IS in the opposite flanges thereof forselectively receiving a tow eye IS. The bar I4 is braced onweach sidethereof by bars ll secured to the lower free end thereof and to the sidemembers I0 and II respectively.

The supporting frame A is mounted on a car-' riage consisting of atransversely extending shaft 18 on which are journaled steel wheels l9provided as desired with hard rubber or pneumatic treads and which shaftis bolted or otherwise aflixed to aligned V-shaped flat iron brackets 20secured to and depending from the underside of the side members In andII and with vertically arranged channel shaped braces 2| welded orotherwise secured to the V-shaped brackets 20 3 medially thereof and tothe underside of the side members It] and H.

A leg 22 provided with a caster 23 has its upper end slidably arrangedin a sleeve 24 depending from the forward end of the side member H forsupporting the forward end of the frame A when the apparatus is not inuse and which leg is ,7

adapted to be retracted upwardly in the sleeve 26 and secured inelevated position by means of a pin or Wing screw (not shown) when theapparatus is coupled to a tractor or other motor power for towing thesame.

The burner apparatus includes a fuel drum or barrel cradled betweentransversely extending angle bars 25 supported upon a sheet metal shield21 to dispose the drum or barrel in elevated position above the shieldto thereby provide an air space therebetween. A pair of longitudinallyspaced channel bars 28 underlie the shield 21 and support the same andthe drum or barrel 25 above the side members Ill and II of the frame A.The drum or barrel 25 is clamped in position on the angle bars 26 bymeans of a pair of inverted U- shaped metallic straps 29 extending overthe top of the drum or barrel with the ends of the straps bolted tochannel shaped bars welded to one of the channel shaped bars 28 and oneof the channel shaped bars 13 and which straps are tightened by means ofturn-buckles 30 in the forward legs thereof. The shield 2'! extendsangularly upward at the front and rear of the drum or barrel 25 tothereby protect the same from the heat of the burning fluid, the rearportion of the shield being braced by brackets 3| bolted or otherwisesecured to the side members HI and l I.

The drum or barrel 25 has a suction pipeline 32 extending into the topthereof which is connected with a downwardly directed suction pipe 33having an open end 34 adjacent the bottom of the tank. The pipeline 321sconnected with the inlet side of a gear pump 35 through a check valve 36and then through a three-way valve 37 and strainer 38, the check valve36 functioning to prevent leakage of the fluid from the drum or barrel25 when the pump is not in operation. From its outlet side the pump 35is connected by a pipeline with a three-way valve 39 and from said valvethrough a branch pipeline 4!], and flexible hose 4| to a reducing valve42 and a combination strainer and needle valve 43 to a pilot burner 44.

From the three-way valve 39 a branch pipeline 45 leads to a combinationstrainer and needle valve 45 and thence to a heating coil 47. By meansof an adjustable bypass valve 48 connected in the pipeline leading fromthe outlet side of the pump and to a pipeline 49, check valve 5| and apipeline 52 opening into the top of the drum or barrel 25, a portion ofthe fuel delivered by the pump 35 is adapted to be returned to the drumor barrel 25 whereby any desired fuel pressure can be obtained on thefuel fed to the coil 41 in order to regulate the pressure of thevaporized fuel at the orifices in the main burner 53. Since the pressurerequired in the vapor at the orifices of the main burner 53 is usuallyhigher than the pressure of the fuel at the pilot burner 44, thepressure of the latter may be reduced by means of the pressure reducingvalve 42. The gear pump 35 is driven by any preferred motor power suchas a gas engine (not shown) coupled to the pump through reductiongearing.

The pilot burner 44 may be of any preferred type of hydrocarbon burnerpreferably a vaporizing type adapted to project an elongated flame andthe same is supported on the forward end 4 of a channel shaped platform54 in juxtaposition to the forward end of the coil 41 for directing aflame axially therethrough for heating and vaporizing the fuel oilpumped through said coil by the gear pump 35. A baffie 55 of heatresisting material is located coaxially with the coil adjacent the rearend thereof which functions to deflect the flame and gases issuing fromthe pilot burner toward the periphery of the coil. The

said coil is of helical formation and is located concentrically withinand in spaced relation to a cylindrical steel shell 56 supported uponthe platform 54 and in spaced relation to the said shell 5,5 is asemi-cylindrical steel shield 5'! open at its opposite ends and securedto the platform 54. The pipeline 55 is connected to the heater coil 41at the forward end thereof and a pipeline 58 connected to the rear endof the coil 41 extends forwardly thereof upon the platform 54 betweenthe shell 56 and the shield 51. The pipeline 53 is connected to aflexible hose 59 of heat resisting material which latter is connected toa strainer 50 and by a pipe 5| with an adjustable head 62. The head 62is arranged in spaced relation to the forward end of a longitudinallyextending conduit 63 defining an air and vaporized fuel mixing chamber.The conduit 53 is formed with a flared forward end providing a Venturimouth into which protrudes axially thereof a nozzle 64 provided on thefree end of the pipe 6| The adjustable head 62 includes a threadedsleeve 55 adapted to be secured on the pipe 6! by a set screw 66. Thesleeve 65 has an airshutter 91 threadedly mounted thereon for move} menttoward and away from the flared open end of the conduit 63 forregulating the size of the air-passage into the said conduit; A lockingnut 88 threadedly mounted on the sleeve 65 is adapted to lock theshutter 61 in any desired position. The conduit 63 defining the air andvaporized fuel mixing chamber is pivotally mounted at its forward end ontrunnions t9 carried by a bracket 15. The rear end of said conduit isconnected to the flared inlet H of the main burner 53.

The main burner 53 extends transversely of the supporting frame A withthe opposite ends of the burner projecting laterally outward beyondthesaid frame. The said burner is pivoted to the lower ends of dependingarms 72 pivoted at their upper ends to the outer ends of levers 13secured to the opposite ends of a cross-shaft '15 which latter isrotatably mounted in brackets 75 depending from the side members I!) andH of the frame A. A semi-circular worm gear 15 is secured to thecross-shaft M at one side of thetransverse center thereof and meshingwith said worm gear is a Worm Ti secured to the lower end of alongitudinally extending inclined shaft l8 journaled in a bearing l9 andhaving a hand wheel 89 at the forward end thereof adapted'to be turnedfor effecting turning movement of the cross-shaft and the raising orlowering of the main burner 53 and swinging of the conduit 63 on thetrunnions 69.

The main burner 53 together with the conduit 53 is counterbalanced bymeans of a pair of spiral springs 81' connected at their lower ends tothe opposite ends of a bracket 82 secured to the conduit 63 with theupper ends of said coils connected to the opposite ends of an angle bar83 having a threaded spindle protruding upwardly through a supportingbracket 84 and threadedly engaged by a hand lever 85 for adjusting thetension on the springs. The bracket 84- sl opes rearwardly and is.welded or otherwise secured to the channel shaped member 12 at the" rearof the frame. The forward upper end of said bracketis' supported by apedestal 86 secured to the underside thereof and welded or otherwisesecured at its lower end to the rearmost intermediate channelshapedmember' 13. A locking nut 81' secures the hand lever 85 inadjusted position.

The main burner 53 consists of a heat resisting metallic pipe 38extending transversely of the frame at the rear thereof with itsopposite ends projecting laterally therebeyond so as to provide a widearea to be covered by the flame jetsissuing therefrom. The pipe 88 isclosed at its up positeends and centrally thereof is in communicationwith the conduit 63 and is supported on the lower "ends of the dependingarms 12 which are respectively secured between pairs of spaced bars 89detachably secured by bolts 90 against the opposite faces of ribs 9|extending radially outward from and formed integrally with splittubularsleeves 92 disposed in surrounding relation with the pipe 88 andsecured thereto by set screws 33. The pipe 88 is also provided with aplurality of said sleeves 92 secured thereon in spaced relation betweenthe depending arms 12 and with one such sleeve located adjacent each ofthe outerends of the said pipe. The sleeves 92 have their split portionslocated below the pipe 88 and have downwardly directed flanges 94 ateach side of said split portions between which are secured heatresisting metallic skirts 95 located on opposite sides of a series oflongitudinally spaced apertures 96 opening through the pipe 88. Theskirts 95 provide a passageway therebetween for the flame jets issuingfrom the apertures 96 and function to prevent excessive air mixing withthe combustible vapors at the base of the flame jets. The skirts 95 aremaintained in spaced relation by spacing elements 9? and are formed withprojections 98 at the opposite ends thereof supported on shouldersdefined by the inwardly offset portions 99 of the flanges 84 of thesleeves 92. A pair of skirts 95 is thus secured between each adjacentpair of sleeves 92 and provides means whereby the skirts may be removedand replaced in the event that the same become warped. In order toconfine the flame jets issuing from the apertures 96 to a limited areaat the rear of the apparatus a heat resistin metallic housing I88 openat the bottom is provided which is supported upon the arcuate upperedges of the ribs 9|. The housing N18 is closed at its opposite ends bymeans of the flanged end walls I! and is provided with apertures 192through which the bars 89 protrude. Heat resisting metallic flaps I03are hingedly connected to the longitudinal lower rear edge of thehousing I00 for concentrating the flame within the housing and directingthe same downwardly against the ground or supporting surface.

A heat resisting metallic shield I04 is secured at its upper end betweenthe opposite side members iii and H of the frame A rearwardly of thecounterbalancing springs 8| which shield extends downwardly therefromwith its lower edge disposed adjacent the ground and with its oppositesides projecting laterally outward beyond the side members of the framefor protecting the parts of the apparatus forwardly thereof from theheat of the flame jets and the heated ground.

A shield I85 also fashioned of heat resisting metallic material issecured between the opposite '6 side members In and ll of the frame Aabove the pilot burner 44 and extending under the housing I06 containingthe piping and control valves and under the housing I01 containing theengine and pump 35.

The burner 44 may be swung to angular relation in order to facilitatecleaning thereof. The platform 54 is supported by brackets I08 securedat their upper ends to the underside of the intermediate channel shapedmembers l3. The forward brackets I08 have the upper ends of the brackets18 secured thereto and diagonal brace bars l89are secured at theiropposite ends to the braces 2| and brackets 10 for bracing the latter. 7

-A fuel intake pipe H0 is connected with the three-way valve 31 which isadapted to be turned to close the pipeline to the suction pipe 33 sothat the pump 35 may then operate to fill the drum or barrel 25 when theintake pipe H0 is disposedin-anoutside supply and the three-way valve 39is turned to open the passageway through the flexible hose 52. Theoperating stems of the three-way valves 31 and 39 are coupled togetherby means of a lever I 16 for simultaneously opening the one and closingthe other andvice versa.

In place of the main burner 53 the burner illustrated in Figs. 13 to 15inclusive may be utilized. This burner includes a heat resistingmetallic pipe II I similar to the pipe 88 in the previous form of theinvention but instead of the same being provided with a bottom outletthe pipe III is provided with a series of transversely spaced rearwardlydirected pipes H2 which communicate therewith and have downwardlydirected skirts or rims I I3 extending longitudinally of and surroundingthe apertures therein similar to the apertures 96 in the previous formof the invention. The pipe III is similarly connected with the conduit63 and the same is adapted to be supported on the lower ends of thedepending arm 12 by any desired means. A heat resisting metallic housingH4 having an open bottom is supported upon the pipes Ill and H2 andfunctions to concentrate the flame jets issuing from the tubes H2 anddirect the same downwardly against the ground or supporting surface.

Another form of main burner is shown in Figs. 16 and 17 in which alongitudinally extending pipe H5 is provided which is similar to thepipe 88 in the previous form of the invention. In this form however aplurality of groups of apertures H6 are provided which are spaced atintervals longitudinally thereof so as to provide areas on the ground orsupporting surface which are subjected to the action of the flame jetsissuing therefrom and areas therebetween which are not subjected to thedirect action of the flame jets.

What is claimed is:

1. In a portable hydrocarbon burner apparatus of the type including acontainer for receiving liquid hydrocarbon fuel and having downwardlydirected burner jets for burning gaseous hydrocarbon fuel against thesurface over which the apparatus is moved, means located between saidcontainer and said jets for vaporizing said liquid fuel and for mixingthe fuel with air consisting of a heating coil includin a plurality ofhelical convolutions, a pilot burner for directing a flame jet axiallythrough said coil for vaporizing liquid fuel passing therethrough, apump connected with said heating coil for forcing liquid fuel into saidcoil against the pressure of vaporized fuel therein, a. nozzle connectedwith said coil and through which the vaporized fuel is forced by saidpump andia conduit disposed in axial alignment with said nozzle andhaving an open end into which the vaporized fuel is directed whenissuing from the nozzle to efiect an intake of air through the open endof said conduit and the mixing, thereof with the vaporized fuel so astoform acombustiblev mixture.

- 2. In a portable hydrocarbon burner apparatus of the. type including acontainer for receiving liquid hydrocarbon fuel and navingdownwardly.directed burner jets for burning, aseous hydrocarbon fuel against thesurface over which. the apparatusis moved, means located between saidcontainer and said jets for vaporizing said liquid fuel and for mixingthe fuel with air consisting of a heating coil including a plurality ofhelical convolutions, a shell surrounding said coil, a pilot burner fordirecting a flame jet axially through said coil and said shell forvaporizingliquid fuel passing through said coil, a pump connected withsaid heating coil for forcing liquid fuel into said coil against thepressure of vaporized fuel therein. a nozzle connected with said coiland through which the, vaporized fuel is forced by" said pump and aconduit disposed in axial alignment with said nozzle and having an openend into which thevaporized fuel is directed when issuing from thenozzle to effect an intake of air through the open end of said conduitand the mixing thereof.

with the vaporized fuel so as to form a conibustible mixture. I

GEORGEP. KITTEL. PAUL WOLLNER;

REFERENCES CITED The following references-are of. record in h file ofthisv patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Datev 526,300v Dawsonet a1. -1 Sept.18, 1894 657,036 Snowden Aug. 28, 1900 1,012,206 Kolb Dec. 19, 19111,320,973. Bertrau Nov..4i,.1919 1,390,639 Porter Sept. 13, 19211,418,407 Verret June-6, 1922 1,550,836 Mueller Aug. 25, 1925 1,581,406Stebbins- Apr. 20, 1926 1,583,915 Coats May 11, 1926 1,696,888 SchultzDec. 25,1928 1,711,965 Pratt May)? 1929 1,729,149 Brownet al. Sap-L24,1929' 1,757,296. Detwiler. May 6, 1930 1,925,164 Woolery' Sept. 5, 19332,162,374 Chambers June13, 1939 2,210,069 Ensign Aug. 6, 1940 2,228,114;Hess Jan. 7, 1941 2,368,164 Schumannet al. Jan. 30, 1945

